Brazilian football star Neymar has thrown his support behind Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup. The Al Hilal player believes that it would be an "exciting" event for fans around the world to experience the tournament in the Gulf nation. As the sole contender for the hosting rights, FIFA is expected to confirm their selection through a vote by its members by the end of the year. Neymar also expressed his excitement for the opportunity to learn more about Saudi culture and the country itself.
After Kylian Mbappe's departure from Paris St Germain and joining Real Madrid, he is now demanding payment of 55 million Euros from his former club for an unpaid contract. This dispute with PSG's shareholders, the Qatari Sports Investment, could result in the club being expelled from the UEFA Champions League. Mbappe has taken the legal route by referring the matter to the French Professional Football League and the UEFA, seeking payment for his signing bonus, last three months of wages, and an 'ethical bonus'.
Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal has made a formal bid to acquire Manchester City's full-back Joao Cancelo, who has been identified as a priority signing by the club's coach Jorge Jesus. Talks are currently underway with both City and the player's camp. Despite having three years left on his contract, City have been looking to sell Cancelo, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona. If the transfer goes through, Cancelo's arrival will strengthen Al-Hilal's already impressive squad, which includes top players such as Neymar and Ruben Neves, and improve their chances of defending their Saudi Pro League title.
After an unsuccessful pre-season, Saudi football giants Al-Nassr are set to face their arch-rivals Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup finals. This will be the first time in six years that the Super Cup will take place before the Pro League campaign begins. With star player Neymar still injured, Al-Nassr will have to find a way to defeat Al-Hilal and get their revenge for losing multiple titles to them in the past. Fans can catch the action live on Sony Sports and Fox Sports Network, or via live streaming on SonyLIV and the Shahid app.
At 39 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo is still breaking records, this time by becoming the highest earning footballer in the world with his move to the Saudi Pro League. He will reportedly earn a staggering £173 million every year, twice as much as his closest rival Neymar Jr. However, his reign as the highest paid footballer may soon come to an end as the Saudi Public Investment Fund is making moves to bring another top player to their league.
Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal has surpassed the previous record for most consecutive wins by a top-flight men's team with 28 victories in a row. Led by former Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, Al-Hilal's winning run includes a mix of league, domestic cup, and Asian Champions League matches. Despite being without star player Neymar due to injury, Al-Hilal continues to dominate the league and currently holds a 12-point lead over rival team Al-Nassr, which is managed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Young Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Brazil in their Group D match against Paraguay in Copa America 2024. His goal came after a lightning-fast team play involving one-two passes, leaving the Paraguay defense helpless. This marked Vinicius' first goal in the Copa America tournament, a momentous occasion for the talented young player.
In a highly-anticipated match, Brazil will go head to head against Paraguay in the Copa America Group D match in Las Vegas. Despite Brazil's star-studded lineup, their previous goalless draw against Costa Rica has put pressure on the team to secure a win. Meanwhile, Paraguay, who also suffered a loss in their first game, will likely stick to a defensive strategy in hopes of pulling off an upset against Brazil. Keep an eye on Brazil's Lucas Paqueta, who is expected to make a big impact on the game.
Despite missing Neymar and Suarez, Argentina cruised to a 4-1 victory over Guatemala in an international friendly match. The team was led by the impressive performance of Lionel Messi, who scored two goals and provided an assist. The win serves as a strong start to Argentina's preparations for the upcoming Copa America tournament.
Al Hilal, the reigning SPL champions, have been dominating the transfer market in recent years and show no signs of slowing down. After securing the services of star players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, the Saudi club is now reportedly looking to sign AC Milan's Rafael Leão. With a massive release clause of €175 million, Leão's father is rumored to be in talks with the club, potentially making him the latest high-profile addition to Al Hilal's star-studded squad. However, the Portuguese winger has had a drop in form this season, raising questions about the motivation behind this reported transfer.